FBI finds 59 missing children and nearly 200 human trafficking suspects
A federal operation in July identified dozens of victims of sex trafficking and almost 200 human trafficking suspects in only a two-week span.
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A federal operation in July identified dozens of victims of sex trafficking and almost 200 human trafficking suspects in only a two-week span.
The FBI worked with state and local agencies to locate 59 missing children and victims of child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in the month of July. The two-week operation was called Operation Cross Country.
The operation also led to the identification or arrest of 126 people suspected of child sexual exploitation and 68 suspected of trafficking.
In addition to solving crime, the initiative raised public awareness about human trafficking. Victim specialists, child and adolescent forensic interviewers and special agents were involved.
"Human traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of our society, and their crimes scar victims – many of them children – for life. The FBI's commitment to combating this threat will never waver, and we will continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.
WRAL News asked the FBI how many victims or offenders identified in Operation Cross Country were from North Carolina and is awaiting a response.
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